Xie Buyu frowned as she stared at Bai Shuang’s sudden appearance.
Like Ye Yu, he had been introduced by Hong Zhencheng and only joined the Divine Alliance this morning. Was he the agent the “old dog” had sent? He showed no signs of allegiance—though powerful in late Golden God Realm, would he dare kill her with just that? Compared to him, Ye Yu remained the greater threat.
Before Xie Buyu could ponder further, a voice protested from the crowd.
“I’ve known since the start that this guy isn’t on our side!”
Xie Buyu turned to see Ye Yu had crept to the very back of the hall, putting the greatest distance between himself, Dong Fang Yelai, and Bai Shuang.
Puzzled, she asked, “Why are you over here?”
Ye Yu stiffened his expression, feigning indignation. “It’s wrong for you to ask that! As a member of Wuliang Hall’s Divine Alliance, of course I stand among everyone.”
He had crafted this excuse well. Sensing danger when Bai Shuang appeared, he moved to protect the assembly. Though he’d considered standing behind Xie Buyu, her cultivation was too high for a silent approach without detection. After all, he portrayed himself as an unfathomably powerful divine being—he couldn’t break that image.
But the other gods disagreed. Though Ye Yu had declared his stance, ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) his positioning terrified them. With Dong Fang Yelai and Bai Shuang in front and Ye Yu behind, it looked like they would be swept up in a massacre. His loyalty was unclear, so the gods began to edge away.
Ye Yu would not be fooled. Raising his hand, he halted them with divine power. “Brothers, we cannot retreat! As Divine Alliance members, what do we do when a traitor appears? Forge ahead—kill the traitor first! Unity, advance!”
He launched into a frenzy of pep talk to rally them before Xie Buyu.
At the front, Hong Zhencheng stepped forward, voice low. “Master, Bai Shuang—why are you doing this?” His usual vigor was gone. If their master was a Divine Alliance traitor—killing his teacher and fellow disciples, reviled by all—and if Bai Shuang, once a newfound friend, now aided their master’s plot, then what was he? A patricidal disciple? A saboteur inviting wolves into the fold?
He craved answers.
Dong Fang Yelai regarded his nominal disciple with solemn eyes. Their bond had been in name only—beyond granting Hong Zhencheng a cultivation manual when he became a disciple, he had taught him nothing. Yet Hong Zhencheng’s unwavering daily greetings had grown on him, so he had accepted him. But he had been placed there by the old dog, and Dong Fang Yelai did not know why. Seeing Hong Zhencheng’s despair, he felt a pang of regret—but offered no answer. Instead, he faced Bai Shuang.
“So you’re the one the old dog sent. No need for more words: kill Xie Buyu and bring me the Xuanba Titan Slayer Axe. I will keep my promise.”
“Understood. I’ll send someone at once.”
Bai Shuang smiled wickedly—a sight that made Ye Yu nauseous. He knew Bai Shuang was male, yet here he was putting on a coquettish grin. Disgusting.
Bai Shuang plucked at his zheng. Xie Buyu, sensing ultimate danger, took up a defensive stance. If the old dog had sent him to kill her, he must be supremely confident—or else he wouldn’t have plotted so long.
Ye Yu vanished into hidden form, ready to flee. His cultivation was insufficient; better to bide his time.
Bai Shuang’s zheng seemed to awaken—its strings glowed softly. Everyone expected a devastating move. Yet a strange female voice drifted from within the instrument, sweet and syrupy.
“Is it your adorable little puppy Shuang? I’m in danger—come help me, big sister!”
Bai Shuang chuckled. “That’s right—I’m the cuddly little puppy, your cool and perfect piggy sister. I’m in danger; please come!”
“Of course, sister’s on her way.”
The glow faded. Then nothing happened.
Time froze. Silence reigned. All eyes fixed on Bai Shuang and his zheng.
At last, Dong Fang Yelai broke the hush. “Brother, didn’t you just speak with the spirit of the instrument? Why hasn’t it appeared?”
Everyone assumed Bai Shuang had conversed with the zheng’s spirit. No other explanation made sense—until Bai Shuang’s answer shattered that belief.
“Who said I was talking to the spirit? This is my one-of-a-kind Communication Stone. How could an instrument spirit exist?”
Dong Fang Yelai nearly lost his sanity. A Communication Stone so huge it looked like a zheng?
Bai Shuang sneered. “So what? Don’t you think it’s beautiful? As a god, one must have pursuits. And swinging arms and fists—why should I do that when I can have professionals handle it?”
With that, he pointed forward—and the great formation of Wuliang Hall’s Divine Alliance shattered in an instant.
